Pediatric Eye Exams

When should children have an eye exam?

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Children then should receive additional eye exams at 3 years of age, and just before they enter kindergarten or the first grade at about age 5 or 6.
A pediatric eye examination by our Optometrists includes:

  • Evaluation of vision and ocular health
  • Eye teaming (binocularity) skills
  • Eye movement skills
  • Focusing skills
  • Evaluation for amblyopia (or “lazy eye”)
  • Evaluation for strabismus (or eye turn)
For school-aged children, the AOA recommends an eye exam every two years if no vision correction is required. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or according to their eye doctor’s recommendations. It’s important for parents to make sure their children’s eyes are healthy. Approximately 80 percent of all learning during a child’s first 12 years comes through vision.
Good eye health and vision is important to your child’s learning, and vision problems can affect their performance in school. Undetected or untreated vision problems can hinder a child’s ability to perform to their full potential in school. In fact, many eye diseases can impair vision or lead to vision loss, which is why it is important for people of all ages to have their eyes checked regularly.
At least 10 to 15 percent – or 8 to 12 million – children are at risk for vision impairment. Prevention of these conditions can be easy and can help your student perform his or her best at academics and sports, so schedule your child’s eye exam today! While you’re at it, schedule your own exam too!

Eye Exam and Consultation

 During an eye exam, our doctors will ask you questions about any symptoms or issues you are experiencing, medications you are currently taking, any blurry vision, your work environment, and your overall health. Family history and previous eye or vision conditions will also be discussed during this part of the examination. Our doctors will consider this information when determining any treatments or recommendations.

Vision Testing

Regular vision testing and evaluations ensure that you always have the clearest vision possible. Our optometrists provide regular vision acuity test as part of a comprehensive eye exam. Our Optometrists will measure how each eye is seeing by using a wall eye chart and a reading eye chart. The results of these tests are portrayed as a fraction, with 20/20 being the standard for normal distance and reading vision. Depending on the results of your vision test, our Doctors may prescribe corrective glasses, contacts, or eye exercises.

Eye Health

As part of a comprehensive eye exam, our optometrists examine the overall health of the eye through a visual examination and tonometry. Your Optometrist will evaluate eye health by visually inspecting the eye and eyelids using magnification and a bright light. To examine the internal structures of the eye, we may dilate the pupils. Increased eye pressure may be an indicator of glaucoma, so we utilize tonometry to measure eye pressure. After completing these short tests, our doctors review the results and discusses any necessary treatment options with you. Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

Eye Function Testing

In addition to vision testing, an eye exam in our office includes testing eye functionality. Our optometrists perform several tests to evaluate depth perception, color vision, eye muscle capabilities, peripheral vision, and responsiveness to light. Several other simple tests are completed to determine whether the eyes are focusing, moving, and working together properly. The test results enable our doctors to diagnose any underlying conditions that may be impairing the eyes ability to focus or work together.